Ramblers Preston Group - Message Board

Request for Walks - May to September 2010

David Thompson has recently mailed out requests for walks to the usual walks leaders.

He has requested short walks for the 1st, 3rd and, when applicable, the 5th Wednesday in each month.

Also, there is a request for longer Sunday walks on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.

David has also suggested we run short walks on the Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays, i.e. 30th/31st May and 29th/30th August, and also the other 5th Sundays when there is one, i.e. 27th June, 25th July and 26th September.

If there is anyone of the Rambler's members who would like to lead a walk for the local Ramblers Preston Group please contact the committee via our "Contact Us" page.

Your contribution to keeping the group's walk program active will be much appreciated.

(Date Posted: 22nd February 2010)

Tesco Rewards Vouchers

Tesco Rewards Vouchers can be used to pay for your Ramblers single or joint annual membership as promoted on this Tesco page.

The process is to follow the steps on either the "Ramblers - Single Annual Membership" or "Ramblers - Joint Annual Membership" pages applying for sufficient Ramblers reward tokens.

As a point of clarification, information on the Tesco site states that rewards tokens cannot be used towards renewing existing memberships. I have obtained clarification from the Ramblers and been advised that the ramblers have agreed with Tesco that tokens can be used for renewing existing memberships. However. it may be wise for you to call the Ramblers on the published phone number 020 7339 8500 for confirmation if you are interested in availing yourself of this offer.

Please note:

Only one £7.50 Tesco Clubcard voucher is required for a Single Annual Membership.

Only one £10.00 Tesco Clubcard voucher is required for a Joint Annual Membership.

(Date Posted: 11th January 2010 and updated 27th January 2010)

Call for Email Addresses

Midway through the financial year 2009 the Ramblers' Board of Trustees took a whole series of measures to reduce spending. The ones likely to have affected our members most were the withdrawal of paper communication and the reduction of Group funding. This means...

1. Communications from the Ramblers central office to our group is no longer in the form of paper via the post, i.e. snail mail, but is now electronic via the web and email
2. Our funding has been reduced significantly

Our cost for circulating walks programs, news letters, etc. last year was more than half our Ramblers funding for this coming year. This cannot continue. Consequently, in keeping with central office's decision, we intend to reduce paper communication and rely on email and this web site for communication with the local group members.

We shall be reducing drastically the amount of communications to local group members sent via the post in paper form.

Hence we require your assistance. In the first instance we require all those who have the capability, to communicate with us their email addresses. You can do this via the Contact Page selecting the "Membership Secretary" option. Also can you please supply your Ramblers Membership Number. Only the Group Membership Secretary will keep these details.

We anticipate that the next and subsequent Newsletter will be available in paper form but where we have email addresses it will be sent out electronically. This plea will be repeated in the next but one Newsletter in which those who require communications in paper form because they do not have internet access, will be requested to contact the Membership Secretary to make this request.

Your co-operation in this regard will be greatly appreciated - Thank you.

(Date Posted: 9th January 2010)

Committee Member Volunteers Needed Urgently!

Your assistance is urgently needed!

There are lots of ways you can volunteer for the Ramblers. We have opportunities to suit all lifestyles and interests - some take no more than five minutes.

Volunteers are essential to the Ramblers' Association. Thousands of volunteers generously donate their time and skills in support of our work right across Britain.

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills -- it can even keep you fit!

Specifically within the Preston Group there are a number of roles that will become vacant at the end of the year. Two roles have already been filled, i.e. Group Membership Secretary and Group Web site Editor. Four others are waiting to be filled. These are:-

• Group Secretary
• Group Publicity Secretary
• Group Newsletter Editor

Can you help? Even if you are not yet a member of the Ramblers your assistance would be invaluable for keeping the group functioning. For further information about these roles please checkout the latest Preston Group newsletter, view the central Ramblers web site or contact us using our contact page.

Also, there is a need for walk leaders. Please contact our Walks Coordinator using our contact page for more information.

Refer to the latest Newsletter for further details.

Please support your local Ramblers Group

(Date Posted: 22nd November 2009)

Call For Footpath Walkers

The Footpath Secretaries are now seeking volunteers who would be willing to walk nominated footpaths at least once a year and report any obstructions, e.g. missing or defective stiles and bridges, barbed wire, locked gates, etc.

The sketch alongside gives an outline of the parishes and districts in the Preston Group´s territory.

Footpaths can be allocated by parish or part of a parish, to fit in with your home location or favourite walking area. Alternatively they can be allocated as circular walks, e.g. one of the 10 Walks Round Preston, or as sections of the Round Preston Walk. You can, of course, walk the whole route if you choose.

Each volunteer would be supplied with the necessary map(s), report forms and guidance notes. Out of pocket expenses, including mileage at 25p per mile, will be refunded.

If you are interested in helping with keeping the footpath network in our territory open and easy contact the Footpath Secretary using the contact page.

To download a PDF version of this please click here.

(Date Posted: 22nd November 2009)

The Ramblers - 75th Anniversary

The Ramblers celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010. The year will provide a wonderful opportunity to raise our profile, highlight the important work of volunteers and generate income for the organisation. Each quarter will have a special theme.

1. history
2. getting people walking
3. places to walk
4. volunteering

The following special events are planned

1. Baton Walk
   This starts in the Southwest in January and finishes in the Southeast in December. The Northwest is in April. The baton will directly be passed from group to group – the emphasis is on its passage through Britain.
2. Get Walking Day Sunday, May 23rd, with the option of holding walks on Saturday, May 22nd
3. Festival of winter walks. – The start and the finish of the year.

Keep an eye on this page and visit the Ramblers 75th Anniversary web page for further details.

(Date Posted: 3rd November 2009 updated 22nd February 2010)

The Ramblers - Volunteer News & Updates Page

The Volunteer News & Updates page on The Ramblers central site is updated on a regular basis and contains information relevant to all volunteers particularly committee members. It is suggested you consult it every week or so. It does have an RSS feed to which you can subscribe.

(Date Posted: 30th October 2009)

Recommended Browsers

The current Ramblers Preston Group upgraded web site is compatible with the following browsers running on Windows 7 64bit.

• Internet Explorer v8
• Mozilla Firefox v3.6
• Google Chrome v3.0.195.##
• Opera v10.##
• Safari v4.0.##
• Flock v2.5.##

It is recommended that you upgrade to one of these browsers.

If you have any comments regarding this topic or experience problems with any of the browsers listed please contact the web master using our contact page advising of the browser being used, its version and the operating system you are using, e.g. Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2.

(Date Updated: 2nd March 2010)

Cotswold Outdoor

Cotswold Outdoor is the Ramblers Recommended Retailer and their branch on Fishergate in Preston (opposite Waterstones) offers new members an exclusive local discount of 15% off all boots, clothing and equipment compared to the standard national rate of 10%.

New members joining the RA will also receive an introductory 20% voucher valid for three months. Simply present your RA membership card and/or voucher to claim your discount.

These discounts are not available on sale and special offer items.

The store offers a full expert boot fitting service by a fully trained fitting technician (appointment recommended). If you already have walking boots but having problems with them, take them in and they will assess whether it is something that can be addressed though insoles or volume reducers.

For more details contact the store or visit. The Cotswold Outdoor Preston store is located at...

Cotswold Outdoor
Crystal House
135 Fishergate
Preston
PR1 2AH
01772 270 910

Discounts shown are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to Ramblers members.

Trespass

The Preston Branch of Trespass is offering 10% discount on any of their stock to Ramblers members on production of the membership card

The Preston Trespass store is located at...

Trespass
3/4 Cheapside
Preston
PR1 2AP
01772 824 468

Discounts shown are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to Ramblers members.